It’s the biggest local weekend of the year and as with the previous 56 years, the 2014 edition of the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival is jam-packed with activities for people of all ages.
Everything officially gets underway on Thursday (July 31) at 6 p.m. with the inaugural beard pageant presented by Devlin Salon and Barber. Contestants have been growing facial hair for several weeks (or months in some cases) and collecting pledges with all funds going to Big Brothers and Big Sisters Sea to Sky.
The manliest beards will win a gift set, and anyone who thinks their beard is up to snuff can register at Devlin before July 31 for $15 or sign up on the day of the event for $20.
Also on Thursday is the campfire showdown at On The Farm Country Market starting at 6:30 p.m. Teams of two compete to build a fire and the first to boil a can of water wins. The event is free for all spectators, but the entry fee is $10, with all proceeds going to the Squamish Breakfast Program.
Action continues on Friday (Aug. 1) with the annual World Championship Chair Carve at the Squamish Station Mall kicking off at 3 p.m. The popular event sees talented loggers carve chairs of all shapes and sizes. Judging and auctioning of the chairs occurs at approximately 5 p.m., with all proceeds going to Big Brothers and Big Sisters Sea to Sky.
Downtown Squamish will be jumping on Friday, with the Summer Night Street Party transforming much of downtown into a gathering place with food, music, family and friends. Returning for this year is pajama shopping, where everyone wearing their pajamas will receive discounts at select downtown merchants. It runs from 5 to 10 p.m.
The Whistle Stop Boutique again hosts the Into the Woods art fashion show on Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event features local and visiting artists creating wearable art inspired by our community.
The main event for Friday is the Squamish Days Bed Races. Teams of five, with one member on a bed on wheels, must negotiate a two-block course filled with challenging obstacles. This free event kicks off at 7 p.m.
The action kicks up a notch on Saturday (Aug. 2) starting off with the Children’s Sports event at Pavilion Park at 9:30 a.m. Entertainers and all sorts of activities for youngsters of all ages highlight this festival favourite.
The Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Ground will then be invaded by the novice and intermediate loggers for the annual gathering of some of the future stars of loggers sports. Tickets are $2 for adults and $1 for children, with partial proceeds going to the Sea to Sky Forestry Centre. The loggers hit the grounds starting at 1:30 p.m.
Bingo is also back and the Squamish Days Giant Bingo sees participants dabbing their way to victory at the Brennan Park auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m.
Another crowd pleaser is the annual Axe Throw Invitational occurring at the Chances Squamish parking lot beginning at 6 p.m. A total of 30 entrants will battle it out to see who is the most accurate thrower in town.
Saturday concludes with the Loggers Stomp Dance at Match Eater and Public House starting at 9 p.m. The event features live music and adult fun for everyone over 19.
The festival continues early on Sunday (Aug. 3) with the Loggers Pancake Breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Chieftain Centre Mall. Pancakes, eggs, sausage and drinks will be served untill 11 a.m. Adults can enjoy the meal for $8 and children can get their fill for $6.
The Squamish Days 10 kilometre run also kicks off on Sunday. The race is part of the Lower Mainland Road Race Series and also features the Flashback Mile run. The start and finish line for the race is at Howe Sound Secondary School and it kicks off at 8:25 a.m.
The annual Squamish Days festival parade takes over Downtown Squamish starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. It begins on Vancouver Street, travels up Cleveland Avenue and ends at Pemberton Avenue.
Sunday features the World Class Open Loggers Sports show, highlighting some of the best loggers sports athletes in the world. Competitors from New Zealand, Australia, America and all across Canada will entertain the throngs of people at the Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Grounds. It kicks off at 1:30 p.m., with adult tickets costing $10 and seniors/children charged $5 to take in the occasion.
A special event presented by the District of Squamish occurs on Monday (Aug. 4) with the 50th anniversary community picnic. It’s the 50th anniversary of the District of Squamish’s incorporation and representatives from our sister city Shimizu, Japan will be on hand. Family fun, music, storytelling and cake will also be available for all attendees.
For more details on the festival, visit www.squamishdays.ca.
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